The property owners fear they will never be able to sell their homes, which have plummeted in value due to the huge cliff collapse in Seaton, Devon.

Dennis and Anne Rice's five-bed bungalow - called Panorama due to the views of Lyme Bay it enjoys - could have sold it at the full asking price of £600,000 under normal circumstances.

Instead, the end of their back garden now stands close to the edge of a 100ft drop from where the slip took a bite out of the coast road.

People come and view the house and then look out the back and see the damage and they don't want to touch itDennis Rice

The couple, who are in their 80s and want to downsize, have now taken it off the market after two years of trying to sell.

They are preparing to re-list it with another agent one last time at £435,000 - a reduced price of almost a third - but are not hopeful of finding a buyer.

Mr Rice, a retired engineer surveyor, said: "I don't think there is a hope in hell it will sell.

"It is a lovely property with fantastic views. People come and view the house and then look out the back and see the damage and they don't want to touch it."

Neighbour Iris Mason, 78, is also concerned she will never be able to sell her four-bedroom house next door.

It is a similar story for Doug and Jan Rylance, whose car port on the west side of their large chalet bungalow tumbled down the cliff two years ago.

The three houses are on Old Beer Road in the south Devon coastal town of Seaton.

Seaton is on the coast between Exmouth and Lyme Regis

In 2012, half the road collapsed in on itself without warning. Heavy rain was initially blamed, although residents now believe it was caused by a burst pipe.

Then, in 2014, the huge landslide caused by coastal erosion took place, swallowing up a 100ft chunk of land from the top of the cliff.

Despite their perilous position, none of the three homeowners feel immediately threatened.

Mr Rice, using his years of experience as an engineer, believes nothing will happen in terms of erosion for at least another 20 years but is calling on the authorities to shore up the cliff to protect them for years to come.

The 86-year-old said: "We have been trying to sell for three years. We are old people and don't want a big five-bedroom house that we can't maintain.

"We aren't going to be here much longer and the house will outlast us. It is going to be our family who are going to suffer as it will just lose money."

The huge landslide caused by coastal erosion took place in 2014, swallowing up a 100ft chunk of land from the top of the cliffCredit:
James Loveridge/BNPS

Mike Harris, manager at local estate agents Frank Property, which has been trying to sell Panorama, said: "As soon as any potential buyer sees what has happened to the road they run a mile.

"We have now taken it off the market because there is just no point - it will not sell. The drop towards the sea is right at the edge of their garden.

"We don't know if it will get any worse, but if it does then it will start taking their property. Panorama could have sold 15 times over, at the full asking price, if it weren't for this.

"It's a wonderful house and the views are absolutely incredible. It is also set in a highly sought after area, this house should have been snapped up years ago."